A flood of convention bookings for venues in Johannesburg

At the Rosebank offices of The Johannesburg Tourism Company, established by the Johannesburg City Council and run by a Board drawn exclusively from the private sector, it is what Viljoen calls "pressure cooker time, and a very exciting time". He adds that the pleasing aspect of the flood of bookings is that they are spread among all the city's main convention venues.

The Pan African Parliament (PAP), a Government rather than a private sector initiative, kicks off the diary of events with its inaugural session at Gallagher Estate this month. Parliamentarians from 53 African states, five from each country, will attend the session at Gallagher Estate, which will be the temporary home of PAP while a permanent venue is being built at Gallagher Estate. PAP will convene twice a year.

As host to the Pan African Parliament, Johannesburg will be at the centre of the aspiration for the freedom of Africa to be consolidated and to take the form of true and total emancipation. In this regard, President Mbeki has called it a "Parliament of Liberators". PAP will also enhance South Africa and Johannesburg's diplomatic clout in the continent and the wider world.

Other major events that will be held in Johannesburg in the next year or so include the World Petroleum Congress and the annual SAACI (South African Association of the Conference Industry) congress. Eddy Khosa, Deputy CEO of The Johannesburg Tourism Company will be playing a key role in the arrangements for the SAACI conference as a member of the organising committee.

Looking further ahead, the city will host the 2006 World Disabled Peoples' Assembly. Given the strong emphasis the South African constitution places on the rights of disabled people, the local body is well respected in the international community. Johannesburg is also to be the venue for other major events such as the 2009 World Internal Audit.

Viljoen confirmed this week that the International Congress of Paediatrics is to be held in Johannesburg, at Sandton Convention Centre, in 2010. Its congresses attract up to 10 000 paediatricians from about 130 member countries. South Africa, Argentina, Cuba, Italy, Japan and Turkey submitted bids for the 2010 congress which was won by Johannesburg / South Africa.

Professor Keith Bolton, Past President of the South African Paediatric Association who was a member of the successful bid team, says that South Africa's bid focused on the academic, scientific and technical facilities in South Africa, the fact that a congress had never before been held in sub-Saharan Africa and the abundant tourism attractions the country has to offer visiting delegates.

Bolton says that, whereas past congresses have mostly debated developed world situations, his organising committee plans to have the Johannesburg conference concentrate on African/developing world issues.

The successful hosting by Johannesburg of events such as the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup and, in particular, the mammoth World Summit on Sustainable Development, helped establish Johannesburg as a world-class destination for international events.

The Johannesburg Tourism Company has also been involved in securing other new events and exhibitions for Johannesburg. The Holidaymakers Expo will be held at the Expo Centre in NASREC and the Moscow Circus will be staged in Johannesburg for the first time in January 2005.

To enhance its penetration into the international market, The Johannesburg Tourism Company has contracted Pat Fish, a conventions sales agent for long haul association conferences from the USA. Fish, from International Destinations Inc, is based in Washington, the home of American associations. In addition, the Johannesburg Convention Bureau is currently working on 20 plus leads for major international conferences that have indicated an interest to host their future events in Johannesburg.

The appointment of Rick Taylor, former CEO of the Cape Town Convention Bureau as the Business Tourism manager of South African Tourism at its head office in Johannesburg has also been a boost to the industry, according to Viljoen.

"Rick has a sound knowledge and understanding of the role of not only Johannesburg, but all the major conference centres in our cities and our country as the premier business tourism destination for Africa, and, indeed, the southern hemisphere," says Viljoen.

Viljoen invites any organisation or association to refer any leads for potential events that could be bid for. "The Johannesburg Tourism Company will assist in the bidding for any major national or international event that could be held in Johannesburg," says Viljoen.